Monday, 20th September 2004 (2546 views)

Gold diggers and treasure hunters will be flocking to Pilgrim's Rest in Mpumalanga, South Africa, this Wednesday for its eighth national gold-panning championships.

Although competitors get given a bucket filled with river sand and real gold nuggets, the gold has to be returned to the event organisers after the contest.

The idea is the winner is the one to sift the sand and find their nuggets first in the quickest time.

Mpumalanga sports and culture spokesperson Zanele Gama told news 24: "The competition even attracts competitors from Mozambique, Zambia, Britain, Switzerland and New Zealand."

The competition, which is held each year, has become increasingly popular and whereas when it first began it had 78 competitors, there are now around 540 expected this year.

Other events include a Gold Symposium and jewellery fairs all running until Sunday.

Pilgrim's Rest became well-known after the largest recorded gold rush in South Africa in the early 1870s.

 

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